Denture anchor



Oct. 21, 1969 c. KESTER DENTURE ANCHOR Filed May 31, 1968 Fig. 3

Lynn 6. Kesfer INVESTOR.

BY I x 3,473,222 DENTURE ANCHOR lLynn C. Kester, R0. Box 230, Hereford, Tex. 79045 Filed May 31, 1968, Ser. No. 733,354 Int. Cl. A61c 13/30 US. Cl. 32-10 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shallow tray-like base provides a receiver or receptacle for the solid basal portion of an artificial tooth. This base is implanted in the patients gum. It has at least one aperture capable of being aligned with a prescribed pocketlike cavity which is precision-drilled in the patents jaw bone. A fastener has a headed screw-threaded stud portion screwed into the bore at an end of a split sleeve plugged into said cavity. The split end portion provides wedge-type retaining jaws and the cylindrical stud provides a force applying expander. Accordingly, the sleeve provides an anchor which is securely lodged in the socket. A thin deformable protective shield is positioned in the receptacle portion and is interposed between the tooth and headed end of the fastener.

This invention relates, generally categorized, to dentistry and more in particular to artificial teeth and anchoring means which is unique in that the principal component parts are reliably joined to the jaw bone of the patient.

Briefly in the case of a single denture tooth, the region of the jaw bone which is involved is accurately drilled to provide a requisite pocket-like cavity or socket. A prescribed sleeve is fitted with requisite certainty in the socket. This sleeve has its inward or distal end provided with circumferentially spaced slits which define segmental jaws and these jaws are wedgeshaped and are expansible and transform the sleeve into an anchor. A headed screw-threaded stud is screwed into the internally threaded outward or proximal end of the sleeve. This stud forcibly cams the jaws into set positions in a manner to implant the anchor in the socket. The headed end is spaced from a limit stop flange on the anchor. The flanged end projects into an aperture in the plate portions of a tray-like base and the head on the stud functions to clench the plate between the head and flange. The base, more particularly the receptacle portion, serves to permit the basal portion of the tooth to be telescopingly cemented or otherwise bonded permanently in place. A thin sheet-type shield is sandwiched between the bottom of the tooth and the head of the stud.

It is within the purview of the inventive concept to utilize either one or two anchors and corresponding base securing studs. The dual arrangement, shown for example in FIG. 1, can be employed to reduce to a minimum the possibility of the tooth turning around its axis, as could happen with a single anchor.

The expansion principle is advantageous in that positive retention of each anchor in the bone structure is assured. Then, too, with the unique construction, arrangement and technique which is followed it is possible to pull the tooth if and when necessary.

Persons conversant with the state of the art under advisement are aware that expansion-type anchors for dentures are known as shown, for example, in (1) the patent to T. F. Kiernan, ]r., 2,745,180 of May 15, 1956 and (2) Kiernans Individual Tooth Implant, Patent 2,857,670 of Oct. 28, 1958. Manifestly, the object of the present invention is to advance the art in the manner hereinafter fully disclosed.

These together with other objects and advantages which nited States Patent 3,473,222 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view wherein all of the essential components or parts are shown in their interrelated ready-to-use relationship.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the manner in which the component parts are assembled and, as a matter of fact, cooperable with the bone structure, the socket therein, the gum and wherein a temporary cap or tooth is illustrated.

And FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 and wherein the temporary cap is replaced by the permanently attached artificial denture or tooth.

It is to be pointed out by way of introduction to the description of the details that in the simplified form of the invention a single anchor is employed for each single denture or artificial tooth. On the other hand and to avoid possible axial turning, twisting or undesirable displacement under unusual pressure conditions it is within the purview of the invention to employ a pair of anchors and coacting headed fasteners therefor. The single idea is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. On the other hand the dual concept, which is optional, is shown in FIG. 1. It will perhaps simplify the presentation of the invention to stress, that is primarily, the single fastener and single anchor aspect.

With reference first to FIGS. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the jaw bone structure is denoted, generally speaking, by the numeral 6. To the ends desired it is necessary to drill an accurate cavity or recess in the bone structure as denoted at 8. This pocket-like cavity or socket is of requisite depth and cross-section and is ordinarily truly circular in cross-section. It opens through the surface 10 of the bone structure. The bottom of the pocket or socket is denoted at 12. The temporarily usable denture which is employed in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 and is allowed to remain for a predetermined period of time is denoted by the numeral 14 and comprises a simple planar insert 16 having a reduced shouldered portion 18. The final artificial tooth or denture is denoted by the numeral 20 and is of prescribed or requisite contour and the solid bottom attaching surface is denoted at 22.

The rigid adapter base is denoted by the numeral 24 and is of shallow tray-like construction as shown at the left in FIG. 1 and comprises an appropriate plate 26 which is marginally bordered with upstanding companion flanges 28 forming a rim and defining the receiver or receptacle portion for the temporary cap 14 (FIG. 2) or the subsequently permanently installed tooth or denture 20. The plate portion is provided with at least one aperture 30. As already stated it is within the purview of the invention to use two anchors and therefore a second aperture would be provided at the right of the aperture 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Inasmuch as each anchor and holddown fastener is the same in construction a description of one will suflice for both. This is to say the insertable split sleeve, which is made of requisite material and is of appropriate length and inside and outside diameter is denoted by the numeral 34. The upper or proximal end of the bore of the sleeve is internally screw threaded as at 36. This upper end portion is denoted conveniently at 38 for coaction with the surrounding or encircling limit stop shoulder or flange 40. This flanged end projects into the aperture 30 in the manner evident, it is believed, from FIGS. 2 and 3. The body and lower end portion of the sleeve are provided with circumferentially spaced slits 42 which open through the downward or distal end 44. The slits define expansible and contractible segmental members 46 which when in the socket serve to retentively secure the sleeve in the socket in a manner to provide the desired anchor. It should be noted in FIG. 3 for example that the cross-section of each expansible member or detent is increased in cross-sectional thickness to provide a bevel and also to provide the desired wedge-shaped construction as shown at 48 in FIG. 3. The assembling fastener for each anchor and for securing the base 24 is referred to, generally described, as a screw-threaded headed fastener. More specifically this fastener 50 comprises a solid cylindrical expanding stud 52 having a head which is screw threaded as at 54 and wherein the head proper 56 is provided with a screwdriver kerf 58. In use this headed end portion is passed through the aperture 30 and the screw threads 54 are screwed into the internal threads 36 in the sleeve to in this manner couple the fastener and sleeve together and to at the same time mount the base unit 24 atop the flanged sleeve. Although the assembly views in FIGS. 2 and 3 show only one anchor and one holddown fastener or stud it will be evident that it is within the purview of the invention to employ the dual idea and arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

With the base implanted in the gum 60 in proper position and relationship the temporary cap 16 is applied with the portion 18 fitting and temporarily cemented in the receptacle portion of the base. After the temporary cap has served its contemplated or intended purposes it is removed and replaced by the denture 20 which is cemented or otherwise bonded in place as shown in FIG. 3.

It is within the purview of the invention to provide an insert such as at 62 comprising a relatively thin ply or lamination of prescribed metal. This insert constitutes a protective shield and is interposed between the tooth and the headed fastener as brought out in FIGS. 2 and 3 and which serves to protect the kerfed heads of the fasteners. Each component part will be made in a variety of sizes to meet the varying dental requirements. All of the component parts are constructed of appropriate metal which is preferably the same kind of metal unless special conditions are encountered.

It is believed that the construction of the component parts and the manner in which they are made and assembled will be clear from the views of the drawings and therefore a more extended description is believed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, an artificial denture supporting and mounting base, said base embodying a foundation plate marginally provided with coordinating integral flanges coacting with said plate and defining a shallow tray-like receiver, said receiver defining a receptacle for that portion of the denture which is adapted to be telescopingly and retentively fitted and fastened in said receptacle, said plate providing a foundation and having a surface which is adapted to be implanted in the patients gum in coacting alignment with a prescribed pocket-like cavity provided in the patients jaw bone, mounting and retaining means of said base embodying an anchor which is designed and adapted to be retentively plugged into and anchored in said cavity, and means carried by and for uniting said base and said anchor.

2. An artificial denture and locating and anchoring means comprising, in combination, a base embodying a foundation plate marginally provided with coacting integral flanges and defining a shallow tray-like receiver, said receiver defining a receptacle for that portion of a denture which is adapted to be telescopingly and retentively fitted and secured therein, said plate providing a foundation having a first surface which is adapted to be implanted in the patients gum in coacting alignment with a prescribed pocket-like cavity provided in the patients jaw bone, and a second denture basing surface, mounting and retaining means for said base embodying an anchor which is designed and adapted to be retentively plugged into and anchored in said cavity, means carried by and for uniting said base and anchor, an artificial denture, said denture being wholly solid, of prescribed shape and size and having an attaching basal portion which is operatively mounted parallel with said plate and is secured within the limiting confines of the aforementioned flanges.

3. The artificial denture defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said plate is provided with at least one aperture, said base and anchor uniting means comprising at least one screw-threaded headed fastener having a stud passing through the coacting aperture and being fitted telescopingly into said anchor.

4. The artificial denture defined in and according to claim 3, and wherein said anchor comprises a sleeve, said sleeve serving to line said cavity and having an outer end with internal screw threads into which the screw-threaded portion of said stud is screwed.

5. The artificial denture defined in and according to claim 4, and, in combination, a bendable, deformable sheet-type insert conformingly fitted in the receptacle portion of said receiver, said insert providing a shield and being sandwiched between the head of the fastener and an adjacent surface of the denture.

6. Locating, orienting and anchoring means for an artificial denture comprising, in combination, a base embodying a foundation plate marginally encompassed by flanges defining a shallow tray-like receiver, said plate base being adapted to be implanted in the patients gum and having at least one aperture capable of being lined up with a pocket-like cavity in the patients jaw bone, the receptacle portion of the receiver being adapted to telescopingly and retentively receive a connectible end portion of the denture, a sleeve adapted to be plugged into and lodged in said cavity, one end portion of said sleeve being conformingly fitted into said aperture and having a limit stop flange abutting said plate, the body and other end portion of said sleeve being provided with circumferentially spaced longitudinal slits coacting and defining expansible and contractible anchoring jaws, and a fastener for assembling and uniting said base and anchoring sleeve, said fastener comprising a stud telescoping into the bore of said sleeve and having a head at one end seated in said receiver and engaging said plate, having screw threads adjacent said head screwed into coacting internal threads in the bore of said sleeve and having a free end operatively engaging said jaws.

7. The artificial denture anchoring means defined in and according to claim 6, and wherein said jaws are progressively increased in cross-section toward their free ends and constitute wedge-like members, said stud having slidingly shiftable engagement with said jaws in a manner to forcibly expand the same into friction retaining contact with wall portions of said cavity.

8. The artificial denture defined in and according to claim 7, and, in combination, a bendable, deformable sheet-type insert conformingly fitted in the receptacle portion of said receiver, said insert providing a shield and being sandwiched between the head of the fastener and an adjacent surface of the denture.

9. The artificial denture defined in and according to claim 8, and, in combination, an artificial denture having an end portion fitted and secured in the receptacle portion of said receiver.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,857,670 10/1958 Kiernan 32-10 ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner 

